Picture puzzle game



May 16, 1961 F. PARLATO PICTURE PUZZLE GAME Filed April 2a, 1959 FRANKPARLA l'O .1 mean 7 United States Patent PICTURE PUZZLE GAME FrankParlato, 2426 Dean St., Brooklyn, NY.

Filed Apr. 28, 1959, Ser. No. 809,490

1 Claim. (Cl. 273-157) This game relates to puzzles and, moreparticularly, to a picture puzzle game.

Picture puzzles have always been popular with children and adults, andvarious types have been proposed for difierent age levels. Accordingly,it is an object of the present invention to provide a picture puzzlegame particularly suited for younger children, in which a picture of thefinished puzzle is provided for guiding the placement of the individualpuzzle parts.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a picture puzzlegame having a multiple number of puzzles, without increasing thecomponent parts thereof, so as to enhance the usefulness andentertainment value of such a puzzle.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a picturepuzzle game of the type described that is completely self contained,readily stored without losing parts thereof, and which can bemanufactured in large quantities at a relatively low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of thisinvention will become apparent from a study of the followingspecification, taken with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a picture puzzle game made inaccordance with one form of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the device shown in Figure l,with one of the puzzle parts removed;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the assembly shown in Figure 2,with the parts of the picture puzzle displaced from their properpositions;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the reverse side of the puzzle blocks shownin Figures 1 to 3;

Figure 5 is a transverse cross sectional view of the puzzle assemblyshown in Figure 1, in a completely closed position;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary rear view of certain parts of the assemblyshown in Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary front view of other parts of the assemblyshown in Figure 1;

Figure 8 is a transverse cross sectional view of a slightly modifiedform of construction;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the assembly shown in Figure 8, in apartially opened position.

Referring now to the drawing, and more particularly to Figures 1 to 7thereof, a picture puzzle toy 10 made in accordance with one form of thepresent invention is shown to include a tray type base 12 having arectangular compartment 14 within which a plurality of blocks 18 ofsubstantially identical size and shape are removably disposed. Each oneof the blocks 16 has indicia 18a, b imprinted on the opposite sidesthereof, the indicia on each side including a portion of a differentcomposite picture when the blocks are properly assembled.

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Closure means in the form of a cover 20 is hingedly connected to thebase 12 by means of a pair of hinges 22, for selective movement betweena normally closed and an open position. A latch element 24 pivotallycarried by the closure member 20 may be selectively engaged with anotherlatch element 26, carried by the base 12 to maintain the parts in theclosed position shown in Figure 5. Each side of the closure member 20has a composite picture 28 b imprinted thereupon to correspond to thecompleted picture obtained by the proper assembly of the blocks, oneither face thereof. Thus, a child starting with the mixed up blocks maymore readily determine the proper position of each such blocks to formthe completed picture 28a within the cover 20, hence, if the childdesires to complete the picture formed on the opposite sides of theblocks, the blocks are first removed from the compartment 14 and theclosure 20 closed so that such blocks may be placed upon the picture ofthe completed puzzle 28a upon the top surface of the closure member.

In Figures 8 and 9 of the drawing, a modified form of construction 30 isshown wherein the base tray includes a bottom wall 32 and a pair ofupwardly extending sidewalls 34, each of which has a longitudinal groove36 that slidably receives tongue elements 38 of the top closure member42 that is slidably received therewithin. The interior 35 of the basetray provides a housing for the blocks 40, each of which has a portionof a different picture 40a, b imprinted thereon. The closure member 42has a different composite picture 44a, b imprinted upon the oppositesides thereof, so as to provide a guide for the proper assembly of theblocks 40 on either side. Thus, after the blocks have been removed fromthe interior 35 of the base, the closure member 42 is replaced in eitherupwardly facing position, and the blocks may be readily assembled uponthe upper exposed surface thereof in the manner indicated.

While this invention has been described with particular reference to theconstruction shown in the drawing, it is to be understood that such isnot to be construed as imparting limitations upon the invention, whichis best defined by the claim appended hereto.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent:

A puzzle toy comprising, in combination, a substantially rigid basetray, said tray defining a compartment for the removable placement of aplurality of puzzle blocks therewithin, indicia carried upon the upperand lower faces of each of said puzzle blocks, closure means carried bysaid base tray for selective movement between a normally closed and anopen position, indicia carried upon said closure means having portionscorre sponding to said indicia upon the upper and lower faces of saidpuzzle blocks, and different indicia being imprinted upon the upper andlower faces of each of said puzzle blocks, said indicia being imprintedon each side of said closure means, said closure means indiciacorresponding to the completed picture formed by the proper assembly ofthe upper and lower faces of said blocks, and said closure meanscomprising a cover pivotally mounted upon one side of said base tray forselected pivotal movement between said open and closed positions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS650,320 Hepfinger May 22, 1900 760,384 Dieterich May 17, 1904 1,987,496Springborn Jan. 8, 1935 2,452,341 Wasserman Oct. 26, 1948

